Bill Overview
Title: Medical Marijuana Research Act
Description: This bill establishes a new, separate registration process to facilitate medical marijuana research. Specifically, it directs the Drug Enforcement Administration to register (1) practitioners to conduct medical marijuana research, and (2) manufacturers and distributors to supply marijuana for such research. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must continue to produce marijuana through the National Institute on Drug Abuse Drug Supply Program and implement a specialized process for supplying marijuana products available through state-authorized marijuana programs to researchers until manufacturers and distributors can provide a sufficient supply of marijuana for medical research.
Sponsors: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
Target Audience
Population: People who could benefit from improved medical marijuana research
Estimated Size: 10000000
- Medical researchers focusing on medical marijuana will have improved access to marijuana for research, potentially increasing the number of studies conducted.
- Patients benefiting from medical marijuana could be impacted by new, potentially more effective therapies developed through improved research.
- Healthcare providers may experience indirect impacts due to new data influencing medical guidelines and treatments involving medical marijuana.
- Regulators and policymakers may have impacts due to better-informed decisions regarding medical marijuana policies as a result of enhanced research data.
- Manufacturers and distributors of marijuana will be directly involved and impacted as they will have the opportunity to engage more actively in supplying marijuana for research purposes.
Reasoning
- The target population affected by the Medical Marijuana Research Act will largely include medical researchers, patients using medical marijuana, healthcare providers interested in marijuana treatment options, and marijuana manufacturers and distributors.
- Considering the distribution of skills and interests in the population, researchers and patients will most readily engage in the opportunities created by this policy. This is due to existing interest and benefits directly aligning with their unknowns or therapeutic needs.
- The majority of immediate effects will likely be observed more strongly within urban areas where healthcare infrastructure and medical research facilities are concentrated.
- An indirect but considerable effect will occur over time as research findings translate into new treatment guidelines and potentially improved health outcomes for patients.
- The policy is designed to support increased study and data collection, which is essential in moving beyond anecdotal evidence toward scientifically-backed medical uses of marijuana.
- People not engaged in medical marijuana either as patients, researchers, or healthcare providers might not see any direct individual impact from this policy.
- Over a ten-year span, the budget spreads to carefully investigate and produce long-term evidence, influencing medical regimes whereas initial impacts might seem limited within the first few years.
Simulated Interviews
Medical Researcher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will finally allow me to conduct the clinical trials I've been pushing for years.
- More research opportunities mean better career growth and personal professional satisfaction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Medical Marijuana Manufacturer (Denver, CO)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could really boost my business since we already have quality controls in place suitable for research use.
- It will also align our products with more scientifically-backed benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Oncologist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The outcomes of this policy could clarify dosing and efficacy.
- It may streamline conversations with patients about what products will really help them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Patient undergoing chronic pain management (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Research into new strains and uses of medical marijuana is crucial for patients like me.
- Anything that could offer better relief or understanding of long-term effects is valuable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this doesn't directly impact me, I see how it could benefit my nephew who uses medical marijuana for epilepsy.
- It sounds like the policy will encourage safer and more regulated treatment options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Policy Analyst (Austin, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced research will aid in rationalizing marijuana policy, a needful crusade.
- Clarity in data can drastically reshape health policy discussions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new research facilitated could lead to breakthroughs that introduce newer drugs to market.
- This is promising for growth in the pharmaceutical sector related to cannabinoid products.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Healthcare Provider (Portland, OR)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Evidence-based research will enhance and validate treatment options for my patients.
- Marijuana remains stigmatized; research could destigmatize and normalize it as a reputable treatment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will simplify my access to research-grade cannabis for my thesis project.
- It could expand academic collaboration opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cannabis Legal Specialist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Legally, it offers a clearer framework for practitioners, which was much needed.
- Could standardize some aspects of legal compliance in research and healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 3: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Year 5: $35000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $40000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The logistics and efficiency of DEA's registration process and how quickly it can facilitate research growth.
- The pace at which manufacturers and distributors can supply research demands, influencing cost and economic burdens.
- The potential speed of medical advancements and subsequent healthcare savings spurred by this act.
- The evolving landscape of state-authorized marijuana programs and their integration into federal research initiatives.